Marketing Connections

Huong Tran ’17, Hanoi, Vietnam
Major: Business with concentrations in Marketing and Organizational Leadership

From coding and digital advertising to managing an e-commerce site and engaging readers on social media, Tran has a wide variety of responsibilities. Every day brings new opportunities, problems to solve, and ever-changing technology to learn.

“It’s exciting coming to work each day and getting new projects to tackle,” Tran says.

Tran spends the majority of her days making sure magazine readers have the best experience possible through constantly improving Spotlight’s digital appearance and managing the company’s various social media accounts.

“Trends are moving away from traditional styles of marketing, so to be successful as a marketer it’s essential to be tech current, open-minded, flexible, and self-motivated to keep moving forward,” she says. 

One of her favorite parts of the job is promoting the Fargo-Moorhead community. Through her Concordia connections, professional network and local events like Startup Weekend, TEDxFargo, 1 Million Cups, and Giving Hearts Day, Tran has made deep connections in the region.

“Fargo-Moorhead means a lot to me. It’s been home for the last four years. I’ve met so many people that have become like family,” she says. “You don’t need to move to the Twin Cities or another big city. The opportunities are right here.”

Tran believes the leadership skills she gained in her involvement in Concordia’s Student Government Association, the hands-on experience in her marketing jobs on campus, and her relationships with staff and faculty mentors were crucial to her success after college.

She encourages students to utilize the resources on campus to prepare for their career.

“Get a mentor, make connections and take advantage of the Career Center,” she says. “Your professors want the best for you. I stay in touch with some of my professors and they have helped me not just academically, but professionally as well.”

^{Published February 2018}